the rebirth of Beergood's 750 cafe

[Craiger]

Funny story. :-D

Glad to hear the move is over. You must be relieved.

[beergood]

from the "can't leave well enough alone files"

I wasn't totally happy with the single white stripe, so... surprise, I repainted it.

I also made a new dash, not totally happy with this one, but I like it better than the last. I really want to get a new, smaller speedo, but I am torn because I also don't want to do any mods that wouldn't have looked out of place in 78 (or would at least have been feasible). I know it may sound weird, but that has been a guideline since I started.

I also put on different headlight mounts. I always thought that the stock headlight sits a little high, so I am pretty happy with the new body line.

Anyway, on with the pics:

[Colin Green]

Wow

Just peeked at your thread again and see you have made yourself a really cool looking bike. I ain't that big on cafe racers but that is seriously cool

[Athena]

:shock: WOWZERS! thats a nice looking bike you've got going there!!!!

~A

[Craiger]

:shock: WOWZERS! thats a nice looking bike you've got going there!!!!

~A

Ditto. I'll be it turns LOTS of heads.

[n1elkyfan]

That is definitly One sexy bike you have there.














P.S. Whens the next repaint.

[80GS750]

hey beergood that thing looks sick!!!!

i like the colors better than the red honestly...

[beergood]

P.S. Whens the next repaint.

I would be lying if I didn't say that I have been looking at other colors. I am starting to think about a really dark color, possibly with some flake in it. But, yesterday was the first day that I really rode it since the move, and I think that I am enjoying the gray enough to let it sit for a while and put on some miles.

Last night I rode out to a friend's bar. The bar is kind of a dive in a questionable area, and a lot of colorful people hang out there. And there are often plenty of bikes parked out front. Last night I was the only bike for a while (the bar scene was pretty dead). Around 11 a guy walked in with a checkered Triumph jacket, triumph helmet, and when he got up I noticed he had a red Triumph t-shirt on. So I wasn't too surprised to see a new Bonneville parked out front. I guess the guy really likes Triumphs (so do I, but there is no need to go crazy about it).

The thing had the full cafe treatment going on, and I gotta say it looked pretty nice. But it also looked pretty out of the box. Remember when Plymouth came out with the Prowler. It was kind of like a hot rod, if you were afraid of getting your hands dirty and you absolutely needed a factory stereo and AC.

So, as I was checking his out a couple other people were comparing his bike to mine. I don't want to brag, but I got a lot more Kudos than his bike did. One person made mention that his looked like he just drove it away from the store.

Well, I guess I did mean to brag a little.

Next in the works are spoked rims. A fellow GSR member is helping me out there, and when I get them you will hear mad props being fired in his direction. Also, I recently acquired a drill press, so I think the sprocket cover and front disks might spend a little time under a bit.

As always, thanks to everyone for the kind words.

[Bad Kaw]

beergood,
Excellent work; I'm not a period-esque person, but I do appreciate the work of those who are. And as I was looking at your bike I was just thinking about 'spoke wheels'; but I'm not about to tell someone who has accomplished-what-you-have what to do...that being said I think the spokes are really going to pull it up to that next level.
Great bike, great work. I really enjoy watching you work your craft...oh, and had I been at that bar, the check-book Triumph would have gotten the head-nod and your bike would have gotten the kudos...no surprises, eh? :-D

-KR

[ChrisLaw]

Very nice bike. I have a '78 550 that I recently acquired and your bike has officially become my benchmark for my build. If you don't mind me asking, since your old thread is dead, what was your method for making your first seatpan/tailpiece? I'm curious because I have quite a bit of free bondo/fiberglass laying around I would like to use, but I just can't think of any way to make a proper mold.

[beergood]

By saying the old thread is dead, I meant that I wouldn't be adding new content to it, however, you can still read it (link is in my sig).

I start explaining my process on the first page. It was an interesting method, and it had its flaws, but it created a serviceable tail section. I think the second seat that I created, which is in this thread, ended up with a much better result.

Best of luck and feel free to ask me any specific questions you may have.

[ChrisLaw]

Cool, I just read that whole thread and I had thought about doing it that way. I'm currently using the stock tail piece hacked up and a makeshift steel seat pan but I may go a similar route like you did. You've got me convinced that Clubman bars are the way to go as well.\\/

[TheCafeKid]

I would be lying if I didn't say that I have been looking at other colors. I am starting to think about a really dark color, possibly with some flake in it. But, yesterday was the first day that I really rode it since the move, and I think that I am enjoying the gray enough to let it sit for a while and put on some miles.

Last night I rode out to a friend's bar. The bar is kind of a dive in a questionable area, and a lot of colorful people hang out there. And there are often plenty of bikes parked out front. Last night I was the only bike for a while (the bar scene was pretty dead). Around 11 a guy walked in with a checkered Triumph jacket, triumph helmet, and when he got up I noticed he had a red Triumph t-shirt on. So I wasn't too surprised to see a new Bonneville parked out front. I guess the guy really likes Triumphs (so do I, but there is no need to go crazy about it).

The thing had the full cafe treatment going on, and I gotta say it looked pretty nice. But it also looked pretty out of the box. Remember when Plymouth came out with the Prowler. It was kind of like a hot rod, if you were afraid of getting your hands dirty and you absolutely needed a factory stereo and AC.

So, as I was checking his out a couple other people were comparing his bike to mine. I don't want to brag, but I got a lot more Kudos than his bike did. One person made mention that his looked like he just drove it away from the store.

Well, I guess I did mean to brag a little.

Next in the works are spoked rims. A fellow GSR member is helping me out there, and when I get them you will hear mad props being fired in his direction. Also, I recently acquired a drill press, so I think the sprocket cover and front disks might spend a little time under a bit.

As always, thanks to everyone for the kind words.

That Triumph cafe bike is the Thruxton. Basically the Bonnie with a bit more power and some cafe type frills. Neat bike, I want one, just cos i think its sexy, but its by no means a cafe in the true sense..

[80GS1000]

Gotta like the blue/white paint.

[beergood]

That Triumph cafe bike is the Thruxton. Basically the Bonnie with a bit more power and some cafe type frills. Neat bike, I want one, just cos i think its sexy, but its by no means a cafe in the true sense..

No, this wasn't a Thruxton model, it was a Bonneville, I checked the badging. He just had the dealership guys jazz it up. He didn't have the thruxton clip-ons either. He had a set of mustache style bars that I gotta admit did look kinda cool.

As for blue and white, I am starting to lean back to that. But I am thinking about doing the tank white with blue accents.